Medway Planning Board tackles fields, retirement community

Wednesday

May 28, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Zachary ComeauDaily News Staff

MEDWAY - The Planning and Economic Development Board Tuesday night heard the results of a traffic study performed relative to a proposed project to build athletic fields at and adjacent to Medway High School.Jeffery Dirk of Vanasse and Associates, the traffic engineering firm that performed the study, said "four major intersections" were studied: at Summer and Milford streets; Summer and Highland streets; Summer and Adams streets; and the high school intersection on Summer Street.Being proposed is a rectangular, synthetic turf field on an existing softball and practice field at Medway High School. Another field is being proposed at recently purchased town property on Adams Street, north of the school.According to Dirkís projections, the project would generate 150 new vehicle trips through the entrance during peak hours on Saturday when the fields are in use.During the peak traffic hours after school on weekdays, Dirks said the project would generate only an additional 40 to 50 new trips.According to Dirkís projections, the project would generate 150 new vehicle trips through the entrance during peak hours on Saturday when the fields are in use.During the peak traffic hours after school on weekdays, Dirks said the project would generate only an additional 40 to 50 new trips.Chairman Andy Rodenhiser referenced the public hearing for a Cumberland Farms at the intersection of Rtes. 109 and 126, in which residents expressed concern that during peak school traffic hours, vehicles were backed up into the intersection.Dirk suggested to "avoid overlaps" in scheduling games at the fields, as well as high school events to avoid chaos in the proposed 68-space parking lot to the north of the project.Selectmen Chairman Glenn Trindade, who attended the meeting, said although the issue is real, it is a†problem at every athletic facility in town."Itís a miracle that we havenít had a kid get crushed, but somehow it works," he said.In other news, the board heard a proposal by Lawrence Waste Services to build a 4,500-square-foot steel garage to house and maintain trash containers and dumpsters that the company delivers.The board also voted to continue the public hearing for Millstone Village, a retirement community off†of Winthrop Street. The board should vote on a draft decision at that meeting.The project is scheduled to go before the board again on June 10.Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.